Abstract: This paper presents the combination of different precipitation data sets and the distributed hydrological model, in order to examine the flood runoff reproductivity of scattered observation catchments. The precipitation data sets were obtained from observation using rain-gages, satellite based estimate (TRMM), and numerical weather prediction model (NWP), then were coupled with the super tank model. The case study was conducted in three basins (small, medium, and large size) located in Central Vietnam. Calculated hydrographs based on ground observation rainfall showed best fit to measured stream flow, while those obtained from TRMM and NWP showed high uncertainty of peak discharges. However, calculated hydrographs using the adjusted rainfield depicted a promising alternative for the application of TRMM and NWP in flood modeling for scattered observation catchments, especially for the extension of forecast lead time.
Abstract: One of the major challenges in the Information
Retrieval field is handling the massive amount of information
available to Internet users. Existing ranking techniques and strategies
that govern the retrieval process fall short of expected accuracy.
Often relevant documents are buried deep in the list of documents
returned by the search engine. In order to improve retrieval accuracy
we examine the issue of language effect on the retrieval process.
Then, we propose a solution for a more biased, user-centric relevance
for retrieved data. The results demonstrate that using indices based
on variations of the same language enhances the accuracy of search
engines for individual users.
Abstract: Dew harvesting needs only weak investment and
exploits a free, clean and inexhaustible energy. This study aims to
measure the relative contributions of dew and rain water in the
Mediterranean Dalmatian coast and islands of Croatia and determine
whether dew water is potable. Two sites were chosen, an open site on
the coast favourable to dew formation (Zadar) and a less favourable
site in a circus of mountains in Komiža (Vis Island). Between July
1st, 2003 and October 31st, 2006, dew hasbeen daily collected on a 1
m2 tilted (30°) test dew condenser together with ordinary
meteorological data (air temperature and relative humidity, cloud
coverage, windspeed and direction). The mean yearly cumulative
dew yields were found to be 20 mm (Zadar) and 9.3 mm (Komiža ).
During the dry season (May to October), monthly cumulative dew
water yield can represent up to 38% of water collected by rain fall. In
July 2003 and 2006, dew water represented about 120% of the
monthly cumulative rain water. Dew and rain water were analyzed in
Zadar. The corresponding parameters were measured: pH, electrical
conductivity, major anions (HCO3
-, Cl-, SO4
2-
, NO3
-
, ,) and major
cations (NH4
+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+. Both dew and rain water are in
conformity with the WHO directives for potability except Mg2+.
Using existing roofs and refurbishing the abandoned impluviums to
permit dew collection could then provide a useful supplementary
amount of water, especially during the dry season.
Abstract: This paper presents a method of reducing the feedback
delay time of DWA(Data Weighted Averaging) used in sigma-delta
modulators. The delay time reduction results from the elimination of
the latch at the quantizer output and also from the falling edge
operation. The designed sigma-delta modulator improves the timing
margin about 16%. The sub-circuits of sigma-delta modulator such as
SC(Switched Capacitor) integrator, 9-level quantizer, comparator, and
DWA are designed with the non-ideal characteristics taken into
account. The sigma-delta modulator has a maximum SNR (Signal to
Noise Ratio) of 84 dB or 13 bit resolution.
Abstract: We present here the results for a comparative study of
some techniques, available in the literature, related to the relevance
feedback mechanism in the case of a short-term learning. Only one
method among those considered here is belonging to the data mining
field which is the K-nearest neighbors algorithm (KNN) while the
rest of the methods is related purely to the information retrieval field
and they fall under the purview of the following three major axes:
Shifting query, Feature Weighting and the optimization of the
parameters of similarity metric. As a contribution, and in addition to
the comparative purpose, we propose a new version of the KNN
algorithm referred to as an incremental KNN which is distinct from
the original version in the sense that besides the influence of the
seeds, the rate of the actual target image is influenced also by the
images already rated. The results presented here have been obtained
after experiments conducted on the Wang database for one iteration
and utilizing color moments on the RGB space. This compact
descriptor, Color Moments, is adequate for the efficiency purposes
needed in the case of interactive systems. The results obtained allow
us to claim that the proposed algorithm proves good results; it even
outperforms a wide range of techniques available in the literature.
Abstract: Run-offs are considered as important hydrological factors in feasibility studies of river engineering and irrigation-related projects under arid and semi-arid condition. Flood control is one of the crucial factor, the management of which while mitigates its destructive consequences, abstracts considerable volume of renewable water resources. The methodology applied here was based on Mizumura, which applied a mathematical model for simple tank to simulate the rainfall-run-off process in a particular water basin using the data from the observational hydrograph. The model was applied in the Dez River water basin adjacent to Greater Dezful region, Iran in order to simulate and estimate the floods. Results indicated that the calculated hydrographs using the simple tank method, SCS-CN model and the observation hydrographs had a close proximity. It was also found that on average the flood time and discharge peaks in the simple tank were closer to the observational data than the CN method. On the other hand, the calculated flood volume in the CN model was significantly closer to the observational data than the simple tank model.
Abstract: In the present work, the effective moisture diffusivity
and activation energy were calculated using an infinite series solution
of Fick-s diffusion equation. The results showed that increasing
drying temperature accelerated the drying process. All drying
experiments had only falling rate period. The average effective
moisture diffusivity values varied from 2.807x10-10 to 6.977x10-10m2
s_1 over the temperature and velocity range. The temperature
dependence of the effective moisture diffusivity for the thin layer
drying of the ginger slices was satisfactorily described by an
Arrhenius-type relationship with activation energy values of 19.313-
22.722 kJ.mol-1 within 40–70 °C and 0.8-3 ms-1 temperature range.
Abstract: Water quality and freshwater fish diversity from nine
waterfalls at Khao Luang National Park, Thailand was examined.
Streams were shallow, fast flowing with clear water and rocky and
sandy substrate. The mean water quality of waterfalls at Khao Luang
National Park were as following pH 7.50, air temperature 24.27 °C,
water temperature 26.37 °C, dissolved oxygen 7.88 mg/l, hardness
4.44-21.33 mg/l, alkalinity 3.55-11.88 mg/(as CaCO3). Twenty fish
species were found at Khao Luang National Park belonging to nine
families. A cluster analysis of water quality at Khao Luang National
Park revealed that waterfalls at Khao Luang National Park were
divided into two groups: A and B. Group A composed of two
waterfalls (i.e. Aie Kaew and Wangmaipak) that flew to the Gulf of
Thailand side. Group B composed of seven waterfalls (i.e. Promlok,
Kalom, Nuafa, Suankun, Soidaw, Suanhai, and Thapae) that flew to
the Andaman Sea side (Fig. 2) .The Cyprinids represented the major
species in all the waterfalls comprising of 45%.
Abstract: Traffic flow in adverse weather conditions have been investigated in this study for general traffic, week day and week end traffic. The empirical evidence is strong in support of the view that rainfall affects macroscopic traffic flow parameters. Data generated from a basic highway section along J5 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia was synchronized with 161 rain events over a period of three months. This revealed a 4.90%, 6.60% and 11.32% reduction in speed for light rain, moderate rain and heavy rain conditions respectively. The corresponding capacity reductions in the three rainfall regimes are 1.08% for light rain, 6.27% for moderate rain and 29.25% for heavy rain. In the week day traffic, speed drops of 8.1% and 16.05% were observed for light and heavy conditions. The moderate rain condition speed increased by 12.6%. The capacity drops for week day traffic are 4.40% for light rain, 9.77% for moderate rain and 45.90% for heavy rain. The weekend traffic indicated speed difference between the dry condition and the three rainy conditions as 6.70% for light rain, 8.90% for moderate rain and 13.10% for heavy rain. The capacity changes computed for the weekend traffic were 0.20% in light rain, 13.90% in moderate rain and 16.70% in heavy rain. No traffic instabilities were observed throughout the observation period and the capacities reported for each rain condition were below the norain condition capacity. Rainfall has tremendous impact on traffic flow and this may have implications for shock wave propagation.
Abstract: Multiport diffusers are the effective engineering
devices installed at the modern marine outfalls for the steady
discharge of effluent streams from the coastal plants, such as
municipal sewage treatment, thermal power generation and seawater
desalination. A mathematical model using a two-dimensional
advection-diffusion equation based on a flat seabed and incorporating
the effect of a coastal tidal current is developed to calculate the
compounded concentration following discharges of desalination
brine from a sea outfall with multiport diffusers. The analytical
solutions are computed graphically to illustrate the merging of
multiple brine plumes in shallow coastal waters, and further
approximation will be made to the maximum shoreline's
concentration to formulate dilution of a multiport diffuser discharge.
Abstract: Natural Disasters have always occurred through earth life. As human life developed on earth, he faced with different disasters. Since disasters would destroy his living areas and ruin his life, he learned how to respond and overcome to these matters. Nowadays, in the era of industrialized world and informatics, the man kind seeks for stages and classification of pre and post disaster process in order to identify a framework in these circumstances. Because too many parameters complicate these frameworks and proceedings, it seems that this goal has not been properly established yet and the only resource is guidelines of UNDRO (1982) [1]. This paper will discuss about temporary housing as one of an approved stage in disaster management field and investigate the affects of disapproval or dismissal of this at two earthquakes which took place in Iran.
Abstract: Environment both endowed and built are essential for
tourism. However tourism and environment maintains a complex
relationship, where in most cases environment is at the receiving end.
Many tourism development activities have adverse environmental
effects, mainly emanating from construction of general infrastructure
and tourism facilities. These negative impacts of tourism can lead to
the destruction of precious natural resources on which it depends.
These effects vary between locations; and its effect on a hill
destination is highly critical. This study aims at developing a
Sustainable Tourism Planning Model for an environmentally
sensitive tourism destination in Kerala, India. Being part of the
Nilgiri mountain ranges, Munnar falls in the Western Ghats, one of
the biological hotspots in the world. Endowed with a unique high
altitude environment Munnar inherits highly significant ecological
wealth. Giving prime importance to the protection of this ecological
heritage, the study proposes a tourism planning model with resource
conservation and sustainability as the paramount focus. Conceiving a
novel approach towards sustainable tourism planning, the study
proposes to assess tourism attractions using Ecological Sensitivity
Index (ESI) and Tourism Attractiveness Index (TAI). Integration of
these two indices will form the Ecology – Tourism Matrix (ETM),
outlining the base for tourism planning in an environmentally
sensitive destination. The ETM Matrix leads to a classification of
tourism nodes according to its Conservation Significance and
Tourism Significance. The spatial integration of such nodes based on
the Hub & Spoke Principle constitutes sub – regions within the STZ.
Ensuing analyses lead to specific guidelines for the STZ as a whole,
specific tourism nodes, hubs and sub-regions. The study results in a
multi – dimensional output, viz., (1) Classification system for tourism
nodes in an environmentally sensitive region/ destination (2)
Conservation / Tourism Development Strategies and Guidelines for
the micro and macro regions and (3) A Sustainable Tourism Planning
Tool particularly for Ecologically Sensitive Destinations, which can
be adapted for other destinations as well.
Abstract: To simulate expected climate change, we implemented a two-factor (temperature and soil moisture) field design in a forest in Ontario, Canada. To manipulate moisture input, we erected rain-exclusion structures. Under each structure, plots were watered with one of three treatments and thermally controlled with three heat treatments to simulate changes in air temperature and rainfall based on the climate model (GCM) predictions for the study area. Environmental conditions (including untreated controls) were monitored tracking air temperature, soil temperature, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation. We measured rainfall and relative humidity at the site outside the rain-exclusion structures. Analyses of environmental conditions demonstrates that the temperature manipulation was most effective at maintaining target temperature during the early part of the growing season, but it was more difficult to keep the warmest treatment at 5º C above ambient by late summer. Target moisture regimes were generally achieved however incoming solar radiation was slightly attenuated by the structures.
Abstract: The urban centers within northeastern Brazil are
mainly influenced by the intense rainfalls, which can occur after long
periods of drought, when flood events can be observed during such
events. Thus, this paper aims to study the rainfall frequencies in such
region through the wavelet transform. An application of wavelet
analysis is done with long time series of the total monthly rainfall
amount at the capital cities of northeastern Brazil. The main
frequency components in the time series are studied by the global
wavelet spectrum and the modulation in separated periodicity bands
were done in order to extract additional information, e.g., the 8 and
16 months band was examined by an average of all scales, giving a
measure of the average annual variance versus time, where the
periods with low or high variance could be identified. The important
increases were identified in the average variance for some periods,
e.g. 1947 to 1952 at Teresina city, which can be considered as high
wet periods. Although, the precipitation in those sites showed similar
global wavelet spectra, the wavelet spectra revealed particular
features. This study can be considered an important tool for time
series analysis, which can help the studies concerning flood control,
mainly when they are applied together with rainfall-runoff
simulations.
Abstract: Groundwater is one of the most important water resources in Fars province. Based on this study, 95 percent of the total annual water consumption in Fars is used for agriculture, whereas the percentages for domestic and industrial uses are 4 and 1 percent, respectively. Population growth, urban and industrial growth, and agricultural development in Fars have created a condition of water stress. In this province, farmers and other users are pumping groundwater faster than its natural replenishment rate, causing a continuous drop in groundwater tables and depletion of this resource. In this research variation of groundwater level , their effects and ways to help control groundwater levels in some plains of Fars were evaluated .Excessive exploitation of groundwater in Darab, Jahrom, Estahban, Arsanjan, Khir and Niriz plains of Fars caused the groundwater levels fall too fast or to unacceptable levels. The average drawdown of the water table in Arsanjan, Khir. Estahban and Niriz plain plains were 12,8, 9 and 6 meters during 16,11,11 and 13 years ago respectively. This not only reduces available water resources and well yields but also can saline water intrusion, reductions in river flow and in wetland areas , drying springs, and ground subsidence, considerable increase in pumping costs and a significant decline in crop yields as a result of the increasing salinity. Finally based on situation and condition of the aquifer some suggestions are recommended.
Abstract: Heavy rainfall greatly affects the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft. There are many accidents of aircraft caused by aerodynamic efficiency degradation by heavy rain. In this Paper we have studied the heavy rain effects on the aerodynamic efficiency of NACA 64-210 & NACA 0012 airfoils. For our analysis, CFD method and preprocessing grid generator are used as our main analytical tools, and the simulation of rain is accomplished via two phase flow approach-s Discrete Phase Model (DPM). Raindrops are assumed to be non-interacting, non-deforming, non-evaporating and non-spinning spheres. Both airfoil sections exhibited significant reduction in lift and increase in drag for a given lift condition in simulated rain. The most significant difference between these two airfoils was the sensitivity of the NACA 64-210 to liquid water content (LWC), while NACA 0012 performance losses in the rain environment is not a function of LWC . It is expected that the quantitative information gained in this paper will be useful to the operational airline industry and greater effort such as small scale and full scale flight tests should put in this direction to further improve aviation safety.
Abstract: Planning of economic activities development has various dimensions one of which determines adequate capacity of economic activities in provinces regarding the government-s goals. Paralleling planning goals of economic activities development including subjects being focused on the view statement is effective to better realize the statement's goals. Current paper presents a native framework for economic activities development in provincial level. Triple steps within the framework are concordant with the view statement-s goals achievement. At first step of the proposed framework, economic activities are being prioritized in terms of employment indices, and secondly economic activities regarding to the province's relative advantages are being recognized. In the third step, desirable capacity of economic activities is determined with regards to the government's goals and effective constraints in economic activities development. Development of economic activities related to the provinces- relative advantages, contributes on regional balance and on equal development of economic activities. Furthermore, results of the framework enable more confident investment, affect employment development and remove unemployment concern as the main goals of the view statement.
Abstract: A water reuse system in wetland paddy was simulated
to supply water for industrial in this paper. A two-tank model was employed to represent the return flow of the wetland paddy.Historical data were performed for parameter estimation and model verification. With parameters estimated from the data, the model was then used to simulate a reasonable return flow rate from the wetland
paddy. The simulation results show that the return flow ratio was 11.56% in the first crop season and 35.66% in the second crop
season individually; the difference may result from the heavy rainfall in the second crop season. Under the existent pond with surplus
active capacity, the water reuse ratio was 17.14%, and the water supplementary ratio was 21.56%. However, the pattern of rainfall, the
active capacity of the pond, and the rate of water treatment limit the
volume of reuse water. Increasing the irrigation water, dredging the
depth of pond before rainy season and enlarging the scale of module are help to develop water reuse system to support for the industrial
water use around wetland paddy.
Abstract: Recently, there are significant improvements in the
capabilities of mobile devices; rendering large terrain is tedious
because of the constraint in resources of mobile devices. This
paper focuses on the implementation of terrain rendering on
mobile device to observe some issues and current constraints
occurred. Experiments are performed using two datasets with
results based on rendering speed and appearance to ascertain both
the issues and constraints. The result shows a downfall of frame
rate performance because of the increase of triangles. Since the
resolution between computer and mobile device is different, the
terrain surface on mobile device looks more unrealistic compared
to on a computer. Thus, more attention in the development of
terrain rendering on mobile devices is required. The problems
highlighted in this paper will be the focus of future research and
will be a great importance for 3D visualization on mobile device.
Abstract: Cantilever L-shaped walls are known to be relatively economical as retaining solution. The design starts by proportioning the wall dimensions for which the stability is checked for. A ratio between the lengths of the base and the stem, falling between 0.5 to 0.7 ensure in most case the stability requirements, however, the displacement pattern of the wall in terms of rotations and translations, and the lateral pressure profile, do not have the same figure for all wall’s proportioning, as it is usually assumed. In the present work the results of a numerical analysis are presented, different wall geometries were considered. The results show that the proportioning governs the equilibrium between the instantaneous rotation and the translation of the wall-toe, also, the lateral pressure estimation based on the average value between the at-rest and the active pressure, recommended by most design standards, is found to be not applicable for all walls.